Li Jifu

Li Jifu (758 – November 18, 814 ), courtesy name Hongxian , formally Duke Zhongyi of Zhao , was a Chinese cartographer, historian, and politician during the Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xianzong.

Background Li Jifu was born in 758, during the reign of Emperor Suzong. His family claimed ancestry from Li Mu, a prominent general of the Warring States period state Zhao, and traced its ancestry through a line of officials of Qin dynasty, Han dynasty, Cao Wei, Jin dynasty (266–420), Northern Wei, and Sui dynasty. His grandfather Li Zai was not recorded to have carried any official titles, but his father Li Qiyun was a prominent official during the reign of Emperor Suzong's son Emperor Daizong and served as chief imperial censor, carrying the title of Duke of Zanhuang. Li Jifu himself was said to be studious in his youth and capable in writing. Li Jifu served as Zhong Prefecture for six years without further movement, and was later removed on account of illness. He later served as the prefect of either Liu Prefecture (, in modern Liuzhou, Guangxi) When the Li Qi the military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhenhai Circuit (, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) requested to also be the director of the salt and iron monopoly, Li Jifu pointed out that Li Qi was ambitious and rebellious and that giving him the economic benefits of running the monopolies would further strengthen him in case of a rebellion, and thus opposed the request. Emperor Xianzong agreed with Li Jifu. He was also given the additional titles of Jinzi Guanglu Daifu , Shang Zhuguo , and imperial scholar of Jixian Palace. He was also put in charge of editing the imperial history and created the Duke of Zhao.

In 813, when Uyghur forces approached Tang borders and announced that they were going through Tang territory to attack Tufan, the border people were alarmed, believing that the Uyghur might be intending to attack them instead. Li Jifu advocated not becoming overly alarmed, but simply repairing 11 border posts to watch them. In 814, he further advocated the reestablishment of You Prefecture (, in modern Yulin, Shaanxi), a special prefecture to settle the surrendered non-Han tribes. Emperor Xianzong approved his proposals.

Written works Li Jifu wrote commentaries on the I Ching. He also compiled a number of historical events from the Eastern Han, Cao Wei, Jin, Northern Zhou, and Sui, commenting on their successes and failures and the reasons, into a 30-volume work known as the Summaries of the Six Dynasties . In addition to his Records of Yuanhe Imperial Accounts, he also wrote a 54-volume work on the geographical features and histories of the various circuits, including maps, titling the work the Yuanhe Maps of the Commanderies and Principalities . He further wrote a one-volume summary of imperial offices' responsibilities entitled the Key Points on Selecting Officials for the Hundred Offices . He submitted these works to the emperor, but the works were also commonly known at the time.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 148. New Book of Tang, vol. 146. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 236, 237, 238, 239. Yuanhe Maps of the Counties , Li, Jifu, and He, Cijun . 1983. Zhongguo gu dai di li zong zhi cong kan . Beijing: Zhong hua shu ju .